On April 14th, 2026, my dog suffered a severe leg fracture at the Southern Community Dog Park in Chapel Hill, NC. The cause was a well-intentioned memorial bench installed within the fenced area of the dog park; an area that is supposed to be safe for both humans and dogs. This metal bench, instead of serving as a peaceful tribute, unfortunately serves as a hazard for our pets.

My dog is always required to ask permission before she jumps on furniture of any kind. When I sat on the bench, she asked multiple times to join me and I said no because I was worried she would slip through and hurt herself, and she listened every time. Unfortunately, as I went to get up from the bench, she misread my body language as permission to jump up, and her front legs slipped through. Her backside fell off the bench, and she suffered a fully fractured and displaced radius that needed a surgical fix. 

Our dog parks should be havens of play and relaxation for both us and our pets, and nothing in the written rules at the time stated that we were assuming that kind of a risk when entering the park. The memorial bench is an inherently unsafe design that poses a serious risk for our dogs due to the size of the slats between the rungs on the bench seat. Countless dogs roam freely in the park, and many jump on the benches and tables of their own accord. I could only imagine what would have happened if I had not been right there to help her as soon as she slipped through. No one should have to see their pet in pain, nor bear the financial and emotional burden of intensive veterinary care, all because of a poorly thought design.

I called Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation in the days following the incident. Since then, they have completely dug their heels in and attempted to shunt responsibility rather than taking this complaint seriously. The approval for a bench of that design for a dog park was negligent, yet they refused to compensate me financially for the exorbitant veterinary bills. On top of that, upon sending a maintenance team to the park to check the bench, they stated that they would not remove it due to it having no broken or defective parts, even though I reiterated to them multiple times that it was not a maintenance issue. They have drug their feet, promising me return calls and emails that I have had to follow up on multiple times in order to receive a response. For all intents and purposes, they have washed their hands of responsibility and have hidden behind their governmental immunity privileges without blinking an eye at the harm they have caused. I am now turning to the local community as a last resort asking for help.

Research shows that pet injuries from unsafe dog park fixtures are not uncommon. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, preventable pet injuries are a significant concern in community spaces. Replacing the memorial bench with a pet-safe alternative is a straightforward, essential step towards ensuring the well-being of our community's pets.
Myself and those signing this petition propose the removal of the current bench and a re-installation of a memorial bench designed with a flat bench seat and without large gaps or slats. Working alongside local community leaders and park management, we can achieve this change efficiently and effectively.

Please join me in this crucial effort to make Southern Community Dog Park a safer place for our pets. Sign this petition and help protect our pets from unnecessary harm, and together we can ensure that our local dog park is free from avoidable dangers.